County Legislature Chairwoman Savage resigning to take state post April 14, 2011 Updated 12:31 p.m. By Michael Goot (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage announced today that she is stepping down to accept a position in the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Savage, D-Niskayuna, has been a member of the legislature since 1998 and has served as chairwoman since January 2004.
Her new position will be assistant deputy commissioner for the Office of Real Property Services. She is stepping down from the legislature at midnight Sunday.
“I am truly grateful to the people of Niskayuna, Scotia and Glenville and Schenectady County for giving me the opportunity to serve my community for the past fourteen years. Like all of those in public service, my goal has always been to leave this community a better and stronger community than it was when I took office fourteen years ago,” Savage said in a statement. “I’m proud to have led county government at a critical period and I thank my constituents and my colleagues on the County Legislature for the confidence they placed in me.”
Savage touted her accomplishments as attracting new business to downtown such as the Hampton Inn, Bombers and Apertivo and SEFCU, building a new social services building and cutting property taxes. Also, the county has implemented cost-saving measures including purchasing prescription drugs from Canada at a savings of $3 million. Upcoming projects include building a new county nursing home and expanding the downtown library.
Savage ran unsuccessfully for state Senate last fall, losing to longtime incumbent Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna.
Cutting property taxes? Where? Compare 14 years ago when the REP ran the County. No mention of the fact that under her "leadership" Schenectady County has the highest unemployment in the region.
With her departure, there is real potential for a change in direction of County Legislature. I predict that the Republicans will pick up several seats in November. Some of the conservative Democrats on the County Legislature may feel comfortable to express their positions now that Savage is no longer in control. Balance in county government may be restored.
She realized that her political career was over. Her State Senate bid was a complete disaster. She never was the leading vote getter in District 3. With this and other pending openings the REPS have an opportunity to win some County seats/offices. We will see about that DEM bench. Signs of optimism abound especially in the City and District 4.
Interesting how she was so proud to represent the people of District 3, however, none of her accomplishments are actually IN District 3. It just reads as a list of places where she took her people's money and spent it in a different part of the county.
Normally, I'd get all tingly over this news of the Mother of 9's moving out ... but for some reason, in the pit of my stomach, there's something still making me wince in pain. Something isn't going to go right ...
Just remember that they still have the power, and with the rules as they are, they get to appoint her replacement on the board. They're probably doing it now so that the replacement is already in office and can be the mouthpiece for a while so they have name recognition by election time, hence another incumbent to get (re-)elected.
The REPS have a great opportunity to pick up another County seat. They need to get out of reverse in Nisky/Glenville and find an electable candidate to run with incumbents Farley and Buhrmaster.
Judy D has already been anointed new County "leader". Forget about the whole legislature having any say. Everything is prearranged behind closed doors.
I don't care where she goes either as long as she is out of schenectady county politics!!!!
She gets a patronage job like kosiur did. That is their reward for failing miserably in an election.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
... Savage touted her accomplishments as attracting new business to downtown such as the Hampton Inn, Bombers and Apertivo and SEFCU, building a new social services building and cutting property taxes ...
DV won't agree, but Savage does NOT know what she has done to the city. Her "accomplishments" are giving BRIBES to millionaires to come into downtown She BRIBED the millionaires by STEALING from the taxpayers. And she claims she cut taxes !!!!!!!! I DEFY her to prove it !!!!!!!!!! The county tax bills for people in Schenectady has gone up every year, so HOW does she come off with these LIES LIES LIES
Of course, the gazette is one big lie.
She and Cuomo will make a good pair. Lower taxes on the millionaires and raise taxes on the working people.
And at a time when Cuomo plans on layoffs and telling state employees that they wikll pay a couple hundred a month more for health insurance (which, for people making $30,000 a year will be a huge decrease in pay with no raises for the next several years) well here's Cuomo giving out a very high paid job for what? There must be a commissioner, then must be a deputy commissioner. so WHY should their be an assistant deputy commissioner? Cut at the top, but we see Cuomo takes care of the rich millionaires and gives out high paid political jobs for people who only know ways to manimulate property assessments to benefit the rich and screw the average homeowner.
Don't even bother replying DV, you know nothing about property assessments, values, or taxes as you don't own, heck, normal grown men would at least have their own apartment and not be living off others. People who are older but dependent on others, are the ones who cheer for the theft from working taxpayers to give to the millionaires
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.